Infinity Ultra G = ARC AAA-LE???

I was perusing some reviews on The LED Museum. Did I read right? Does the Ultra G (AA cell) put out the same amount of light as an ARC AAA (AAA cell)???

Yes. A number of the one LED, one 1.5v battery lights put out about the same amount. This would also include the Dorcy AAA, the Arc AA, and the Peak Matterhorn.

Geoff

Interesting. I was looking to supplement my ARC AAA, but figured the AA light would be brighter.

No sense in going bigger for the same output.

Thanks.

Maybe a slightly longer runtime? That would be my guess of the gain between the two. I'd get one while I could at a decent price. .

AAs are easier to find also if you have a dead battery

Yeah, I think everyone should have at least one Ultra/Ultra G.

As for upgrades to the ARC AAA, maybe one of the 3LED HP Peak ARC AAA prototype body lights? Not sure if they are currently available, but if you want one, I'm sure someone on the forum might be able to help you.

The Ultra-G would give you a longer run time and if you are willing to pay for AA Lithiums it would give you a longer shelf life too. I do not think they make AAA Lithium batteries. That feature might be important if it is a light you only use in an emergency.

I just ordered a 4-pack of AAA Lithiums from batteryspecialists.com -- (product code L92BP-4-AAA). Haven't received them yet but I got an automated "product is shipped" with a few hours.

;-norm

All these 5mm lights are more or less the same brightness. If you're after high output, this is the wrong kind of light for that purpose. These lights are plenty bright enough to find your way around a room or read something in the dark. They will not light up your yard and scare away burglars. They will not light up a house number from your car. If you want a brighter light in the Ultra-G size range, look for a Firefly or get on the list for the new CR2 Ion. Or if those are too rich for your blood, try a small xenon light like a UK 2AAA or PT Blast.

The Ultra/Ultra-G is a bit more comfortable for most to use than the Arc AAA, because its larger size fits your hand better. However, that same larger size makes the light more cumbersome to carry when you're not using it. It's the usual tradeoff.

There was also an Arc AA, which is similar to the Ultra-G but nicer. They are scarce and expensive now, just like the AAA.

Paradoxically, the Arc AAA is perhaps better for non-flashaholics than for flashaholics. If I had 100 of them I'd be giving them to all my friends for use as keychain lights. But I usually don't carry one on my own keychain these days--I have a Photon II there instead. The Photon is much smaller and just as bright (with new batteries), and as a flashaholic I know how to maintain it and I don't mind replacing it if it wears out. The Photon Freedom even has longer runtime than the Arc (at lower brightness) because of its dimming feature. But the Arc makes a better gift for a non-flashaholic since it's more durable, uses very common batteries, and the battery change requires no tools.

I do give away coin lights all the time and they're always appreciated, but I expect that they become useless after a while (batteries go flat) and there's nothing I can do.

Thanks for the lesson, Paul; but I've been using flashlights professionally for 26 years. I think I have figured out what these little lights are for...

My question had more to do with expressing amazement than anything else. I have a well-used ARC AAA that I EDC (along with an A2), and a spare one new in the plastic. I'm hoping that either will still be with me for the next 20 or active years I hope to have left to live; but I'm planning for if they're not.

A half-dozen of us bought a bunch of ARC AAA-LEs at once, several years ago, and three of them have simply quit working. I wish now I'd bought a couple more.

.

[ QUOTE ]
Steve C said:
Thanks for the lesson, Paul; but I've been using flashlights professionally for 26 years. I think I have figured out what these little lights are for...

[/ QUOTE ]

A very polite response to somebody just trying to help you out.

[ QUOTE ]
Steve C said:
A half-dozen of us bought a bunch of ARC AAA-LEs at once, several years ago, and three of them have simply quit working. I wish now I'd bought a couple more.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have been using these little lights "professionally" for 26 years and you have had three lights fail in the last few years why and the heck would you want more of them?

Perhaps it was a bit harsh; but his remark about lighting up the back yard to scare away a burglar struck me as somewhat smart-*** and patronizing.

I'm looking for supplements for my ARC AAAs. The fact that three of the dozen or so HAVE failed is the reason. The ARC AAA is an ideal take-it-everywhere light, and nothing I've seen yet is as small, with a good smooth beam. And they were inexpensive enough to simply throw one away if it quit working.

The ones that failed were, I believe, part of the last production before ARC folded. They are HA (OD green-colored), and are not as bright as the older, black one I bought several years prior to the acquision of this bulk purchase. From what I've read here, I gather that the black ones are "better". Mine certainly has been useful.

At any rate, I'm a firm believer in having spares, back-ups, whatever you prefer to call an extra for an oft-used piece of gear.

<<If you have been using these little lights "professionally" for 26 years...>>

The statement was, I've been using FLASHLIGHTS for 26 years, as a cop. I'm a recent convert to LEDs for certain applications. I've carried a MagLite Solitaire for many years as a "last-ditch" light, and was delighted by the utter superiority of the ARC AAA for that application.

Its a pocket light, for close-in use; smaller is better, carry-wise. While looking at possible substitutions, I was amazed to read that the AA-powered versions (one of which I have never seen) apparently weren't any brighter than the AAA ones.

That's all my initial post was about.

And the bulk purchase was by myself and some colleagues. I took two of the HA ARCs; one for the wife, and one for a spare. The three that failed belonged to my colleagues.

Well the Arc AAA and Ultra-G AA are both using the same voltage and both use the same size LED. Runtime is going to be the main difference assuming the drivers and LED are similar.

IMHO the Ultra-G using a lithium battery is "slightly" brighter than the Arc-AAA but that is certainly a subjective opinion. The price of the Ultra-G is also cheaper, especially considering the $100+ price the Arc-AAA has been fetching on eBay recently [I have no idea why].

I have personally had less problems with the Ultra-G as far as flickering and failures.

Another alternative are the very cheap $1.00 coin lights that county comm sells, the are very light weight and small and work pretty good.

<<Runrime is going the be the main difference...>>

Interesting.

Okay, thanks. The Ultra-G is the "military contract overrun", right? Looks pretty good for $18; think I'll try it.

If you want a 1aa light with more output, try the Peak Kilamanjaro(sp?), www.peakledsolutions.com -- it's about the size of the Ultra but uses five leds. I really like the looks of the stainless steel version, though don't know if I'd carry it because of the extra weight.

Thanks, but I'm a bit leery of multiple LED lights. I had an X5, and the rings were a real PITA. I tired of having to keep a piece of Scotch Magic Tape in place for a decent beam.

The 1 LED Matterhorn looks very interesting. I'm going to order one of those in Snow and an Ultra-G; that should cover it.

Thanks again for all the comments/suggestions. One always gets good perspectives here.